Mathis Desloges well placed to join Jules Chappaz for the team sprint

With the staff to decide Tuesday, France must choose the partner who will join Jules Chappaz for the team sprint on Wednesday (qualification at 10:15). The final spot is between Mathis Desloges, Théo Schely and Victor Lovera; barring a difficult recovery, Desloges — who has been in sparkling form — is expected to be selected.

Chappaz, the best French sprinter over the past two years, narrowly missed qualifying for the individual semi-finals by seven hundredths despite suffering from gastroenteritis. He would be the second-leg skier, with the task of using his strong finishing speed. Richard Jouve is ill and Lucas Chanavat criticised the course as too long and demanding for his profile, which leaves the staff to choose among Desloges, Schely and Lovera — all of whom won silver on the relay on Sunday.

The selected partner's role will be to stay with the lead group and close any gaps so Chappaz can do the finishing work. The coaching team will announce the decision Tuesday afternoon and says it will keep options open until then, assessing the evolution of each athlete's condition. Given his exceptional performances during the opening week, Desloges looked the likeliest option on Monday, though Schely — a more natural sprinter — still has a chance.